Posts by Mark Buckley

I love rain in the desert. I like the way it looks as it brings cleansing and clarity to all the colors, while surrounding them with a soft, grey hue. I like the way it smells as it brings the soothing fragrance of creosote into our dusty desert air. And I like how it stirs up the giddy in all of us sun-scorched Phoenician folk.
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In a book I have been reading lately the author discusses a psychological defense mechanism called dissociation. (I know that sounds boring, but bear with me a moment.) Dissociation is the splitting off of a group of mental processes from the main body of consciousness. The first example is from a story about a missionary who was mauled ...

My life right now has three main compartments. I have heard people say it is not good to compartmentalize your life. They say, “Your life should not be like a frozen dinner, it should be more like a pot pie.” But I don’t really know what “they” are talking about.
I have my home situation, which is most important. I have my ...

Our son in law, Robert Plaisted, is a Glendale police officer. He was in the station briefing room at 5:00 AM with other officers preparing for their morning shift last month when the Assistant Chief of Police and Battalion Chief unexpectedly came into the room. They stood before ...

On Sunday afternoon, October 8, the winds howled through Sonoma and Napa Counties. The pants of PGA golfers flapped like flags as they lined up their shots at the Silverado Golf Course in Napa. Many spectators left as the wind intensified. They may have gone to bed early, but thousands of ...

I left the door to our backyard open recently for fresh air while I was working on a sermon at our kitchen table. Suddenly a little bird flew past me from our kitchen as it tried to get out through a window. I opened a side door and tried to shoo the little guy outside. He was afraid of me and kept banging into ...

My wife, Kristina, has had heart troubles since she had untreated strep throat, Asian flu, pneumonia and scarlet fever as a child. These illnesses left her with myocarditis and pericarditis. Her parents were alcoholics, ...

Mrs. Covey, my fourth grade teacher, taught me a great life lesson. She gave each student in our class at Bernard Hoffman Elementary School two fertilized chicken eggs. We put our initials on the eggs, which were put into a glass-topped incubator. After...

The only time in all of Scripture that we are asked to test God is in reference to tithing. In Malachi 3, God promises to pour out a greater blessing than we can hold if we are faithful in our tithes and offerings.
In over forty-five years of ministry, I have seen God faithfully fulfill his ...

Kristina dropped me off at the airport for a flight to Oakland last month. She was coordinating a medical clinic in Mexico for the weekend. I was traveling to California for Jon Riley’s ordination service, a family dinner, a pastor’s ...

Late one afternoon last month, I returned from my office exhausted. I tried to take a quick nap, but my left shoulder began to throb, making sleep impossible. I had hurt it lifting weights or sleeping in the wrong position. I wanted to have my physical therapist friend Steve ...

I was talking with a friend with a large ministry who has many opportunities and challenges. I asked him what he does to stay in shape. He told me he eats healthy, works hard, and sleeps well. Those are all good things, but I encouraged him to take time ...

Years ago I learned a simple life lesson. If I want to enjoy my marriage, friends, and coworkers, it is best to be thankful for the blessings they bring, rather than focus on where they fall short. Lately, I’ve been trying to apply that principle to politicians. I’ve been following politics since I watched...

In 1972, John Guido, and brothers Francis and Bob Capaldi, were close friends attending the University of Arizona. They heard stories about hippies and students coming to know Jesus on the beaches in Southern California. They headed west to visit the Jesus Movement sweeping ...

Our pastors would like to hear from everyone who has a testimony to share about what God has done in your life, or through you during the season of Fast, Pray, Share we just concluded. I let go of a few things in my life during this ...

I have tried to peer into the future many times while praying. I would like to know the future, but most of the time it is a blur. I would like the Lord to tell me if I should invest in the stock market, or not. I think I know when our economy is headed for rough waters, but I cannot say for certain. I think I...

My message this Sunday is called, “The Plans, Purpose and Promises of God” from Jeremiah 29:11-12, Romans 8:28-30, and Hebrews 10:35-39. I'll use these scriptures to illustrate simple and important points in this message.
We don't destroy God's plan and...

In 2012 the elders of Living Streams graciously gave me a sabbatical and a simple request. They asked me to pray about my long term plans for ministry and for Living Streams. They asked me to show them my plan when...

My back has gone out a couple of times this month. I wasn’t doing anything strenuous, yet the muscles in my lower back suddenly went into a spasm which made movement painful. I slowed down my workouts for a week, and I began to feel better. The next week, as I started out my front door to ...

Our hearts ache in the aftermath of the shootings in San Bernardino. It is hard to imagine the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Let's pray for those families. Let's pray for ...

The ISIS attacks in Paris were a wakeup call for the western world. ISIS has given its followers a dream that the Caliphate they have established in Iraq and Syria can spread throughout the world. They are prepared to murder and terrorize anyone who opposes their diabolical agenda. Jihadists ...

My message this Sunday is called “Growing into the Fullness of Christ” from Ephesians 4:11-16. In this passage the Apostle Paul teaches believers how to grow in spiritual maturity. We need to receive ministry from those gifted to be apostles, prophets, ...

Kristina and I just returned from a fruitful trip to Belize and Honduras. I'll try to weave a few stories from our adventures into my next few messages.
This weekend I will be speaking from Matthew 25:13-30 on “Developing Your Full Potential in Christ.” God ...

I wrote this Reflections in Honduras, where Kristina and I were visiting with Peter and Katie Stockton. Peter, a physician, brought his wife and four daughters to this remote northern coast to serve the poor. This area had no hospital for the thousands...

My message this weekend is called, “The Lord's Desire for Every Disciple” from Ephesians 4 and John 14.
I have never heard a parent say, “I just want to have babies.” People who have children want their children to grow into healthy, mature adults....

My message to Living Streams this weekend is called “The Battle to Enter the Kingdom of God” from Luke 16:1-18, with a special emphasis on Luke 16:16. In this chapter, Jesus gives us insights into how to build our friendships strategically. He talk...

I became friends with Larry Bresnan my senior year in high school. Larry went to a Fellowship for Christian Athletes camp after graduation and gave his life to Jesus. Larry found peace with God, started reading the Bible, and continually told me “Jesus is alive.” Even though Larry seemed to be ...

My message to Living Streams this weekend is called, “God's Heart for the Lost” from Luke 15. In this chapter Jesus uses three different parables to illustrate the joy God has when one of his children repents and returns to Him. In the parable of the lost sheep, the...

Kristina and I flew to California in April for my mother’s 90th birthday. Our luggage never got off the flight, so our first day in Marin started with frustration. I was scheduled to speak at the San Rafael Open Door Church that Sunday. They had asked me to speak about the faith of Enoch from...

My sermon this weekend is called, “Catching the Foxes that Ruin Our Vineyards,” from Song of Solomon 2 and 1 Corinthians 7. My theme verse is Song of Solomon 2:15: “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in...

My sermons have generated more movement than usual the last several weeks. Some of the movement has drawn people to the altar to receive prayer as they respond to the Holy Spirit. Others have been drawn toward our exit doors as they ...

We are continuing our “Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks” series this weekend with a message called, “Marriage Builders and Marriage Killers,” from Ephesians 5.
Every married person learns some important things about ...

This weekend is a celebration of two significant holidays. Pentecost is Sunday and Memorial Day is Monday. I thought I would tie the themes of both holidays together in my messages Saturday and Sunday. Memorial Day is about rememberin...

This weekend we will begin a new sermon series called, “Life Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks.” We all learn some things the hard way, either because we make mistakes, or others we love make mistakes that illustrate how not to live...

This weekend at Living Streams, our pastors will speak about the impact our mothers made on our lives. None of us have perfect mothers, but each of us has been shaped by their love and care for us. They were our first teachers and responded...

On Monday night I watched cable news as rioters in Baltimore burned cars and looted stores, while some of their leaders made excuses for their anarchy. People who are embittered by injustice often create more havoc by unleashing...

A lady made a difficult decision to come and talk with me recently. She wanted to tell me her family was moving on to another church. It was not an easy conversation for either of us. She had served faithfully at Living Streams for several...

Generals have a goal to win wars, so they develop strategies to fight battles. Business owners have goals to make money, so they develop strategies to grow their companies. Coaches have goals to win championships, so they develop strategies for...

We are beginning a new Vision series at Living Streams this weekend. In the King James version of the Bible, Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Vision is the grace to see life from God's perspective. It is spiritual...

My sermon for Easter is called, “How Do You Know Jesus is Alive?” from Luke 24.
From the time I was a child, I went to church and heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. I accepted this part of the gospel, but it seemed more like history than present reality to me. But when I was twenty years old, the revelation that ...

Our family will gather in Napa, California in April for my mother’s 90th birthday. Roberta Buckley has eight children, twenty-one grandchildren, and several great grandchildren with more on the way. Her life is full with lots of family, friends, faith and and bridge....

It was refreshing to wake up this morning and see the ground wet from rain. Like many things in life, rain in the desert is sometimes expected and doesn't arrive. Other times rain makes a surprise and refreshing visit. I consider rain a sign of God's grace and...

My sermon this weekend is called, “Faith at the Crossroads of Life” from Hebrews 11:20-30. I have been trying to preach on these verses for the last three weeks. Last week my sermon and my life were both temporarily derailed by my foolish car accident. I have...

My sermon this weekend is called, “Overcoming Faith - Part 2” from Hebrews 11. It is easy to idolize biblical figures and think they are superhuman. It can seem like they knew God in such an intimate way that they had no doubts or struggles. I believe...

I woke up this morning with the Spirit speaking to my heart, “I'm going to bring in a harvest.”
Jesus told us to pray that the Lord would send workers to bring in his harvest. The harvest God seeks is people who are lost and disconnected from his love. Many people in our society are disconnected from God's love and grace. We are called to bring ...

My sermon this Sunday is called, “The Power of Faith” from Luke 17:1-10. I have been following Jesus for 45 years, but I feel like I’m still gaining new insights about faith. Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say ...

We are living in a time when people make assumptions about the faith, understanding and politics of others, based on their race, their social standing, or their religion. This is nothing new. People have been making judgments about others since the beginning...

We have a special guest at Living Streams this weekend named Dennis Peacocke. Dennis is one of the most dynamic and interesting speakers I have ever heard. He has an apostolic ministry of strengthening churches and equipping leaders to advance...

Last week I decided at the last minute to split my message into two parts. This week I'm speaking from Matthew 15:21-28 on “The Faith that Impresses Jesus.”
This is the story of a woman who was involved in a tremendous spiritual battle for the soul of her daughter, who was was demon-possessed. The woman went to Jesus to get her daughter's deliverance. Jesus' respons...

My sermon this weekend is called “The Person God Honors,” from 2 Chronicles 1:6-12 and Matthew 15:21-28. In 2 Chronicles 1, God gave Solomon a chance to ask him for anything he wanted. There is a time to ask God, and a time he will give great gifts. For ...

We are already halfway through our twenty-one-day season called Fast Pray Ask. Last night we had a precious time of worship, prayer, and sharing in our chapel. One of the messages shared from Isaiah 54 was, “make room.” When we fast, we make...

It is a blessing to have some rain falling on our Valley as we close out 2014. I hope this will be a sign of blessings and refreshing coming to each of us in 2015.
It has been our tradition at Living Streams to start each year with a season of fasting and prayer. My message this weekend is titled "Fast. Pray. Ask." from Matthew 9:14-17 and Luke 11:1-13. The Lord has sho...

It is our joy to welcome David and Brittany Stockton and their daughters back from Belize this weekend. They are here for Christmas and will return to Belize after the holidays. David will give us a report on his mission, and he will preach a message ...

My message at Living Streams this weekend is titled, "Prayer that Releases Transforming Power" from Ephesians 3:14-21. I'm excited to share this message with you. I've been praying for people according to the guidelines outlined in this passage for many...

Kristina and I were watching a Masterpiece Contemporary mystery on TV recently which had us engrossed in the intrigue of espionage in Great Britain. The mystery captivated us with its complexity, but then the program suddenly ended. At first I thought...

I was driving to Living Streams on a recent Sunday morning when NPR announced the UN had released a report on climate change. It said scientists have evidence our behaviors have negatively impacted our environment and weather. They...

I want to thank all of you who worked to make the Living Streams 30th anniversary celebration a special event last Sunday. It was very encouraging for Kristina and me to feel the love and appreciation everyone showed for the church we have all served for...

On Sunday morning, November 16, at 11:00 a.m., Living Streams will celebrate our 30th Anniversary. If you have been a part of our church at any time over the last thirty years, or if you appreciate our ministry, we would love to have you join us for this celebration. We will worship together, have videos from some of our church ...

In John 17, Jesus prayed for the unity of his followers.
I just returned from a retreat with over twenty lead pastors from some of the largest churches in the Valley, including Redemption, Phoenix First Assembly, Scottsdale Bible, Church for the Nations, CCV, New City, First Christian Mesa, Desert View Bible, Pure Heart, North Bible, Cornerstone, Mission, and North Phoe...

My sermon last week was called, “A Bigger Dream” from Isaiah 54. I spoke about someone who had a dream that was crushed by circumstances beyond their control. God had a greater plan for that person than they had for themselves. There are many great truths in Isaiah 54. This week I want to cover the rest of the chapter with a message...

My first sermon to Living Streams in our living room thirty years ago was from Isaiah 54. My sermon this weekend from that same chapter is called, “A Bigger Dream.”
Sooner or later we all have our hearts and dreams crushed by the realities of life. Isaiah 54 tells about a woman who had dreamed of a life with a good husband and children. Unfortunately she was rejec...

Many people wonder how a group like ISIS can draw men from the free world to fight on its behalf. Why would a young man from Minnesota, London, or Sweden, leave the comfort of his home and risk his life fighting to establish an Islamic State? An Islamic State, or caliphate...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this weekend is called “Transformed by Grace” from Ephesians 2:1-10. This passage of Scripture is the simple story of how God has saved each of us by grace through faith. It has been refreshing for me to look closely at these Scriptures this week because...

by Mark Buckley. This morning I met with five men who have been meeting with me once a week for many years. I have recently been praying for one of the guys according to a pattern of prayer that I have seen in Ephesians 1. The man I have been praying for shared a beauti...

by Mark Buckley. Most of us are moving full speed ahead now that vacation season is over. One day last week I took some time to pray in the middle of the day. I lay down on our carpet and began to speak to the Lord. Within a few minutes I felt the Holy Spirit's presence and I realized...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this Sunday is called, “Count Your Blessings” from Ephesians 1:1-12. Most of the time that phrase is used to say, “count your blessings” because you wouldn't want your life to be in the mess someone else's life is in. In other words, you should be happy because your...

I've heard many people say, "As long as you believe in something, that's all that matters." They don't think it makes a difference what you believe about God. That is a naive philosophy. The world around us is screaming out a very different message. The Muslims involved in ISIS force men to convert to their brand of Islam or face execution. Like the...

by Mark Buckley. In our services this weekend we will be praying over David and Brittany Stockton who are leaving next week to establish a new ministry in Belize. They are taking their three young girls to the city of Dangriga, where they will be sharing the love and truth of Jesus Christ with...

Like many people around the world, I grieved when I heard the news of Robin Williams' death. We both grew up in Marin County and attended the College of Marin at the same time. Kristina knew Robin from Redwood High School and College of Marin. She loved listening to Robin ...

My sermon this weekend is called, “Supernatural Guidance” from Luke 5, and John 21. These passages both describe miraculous catches of fish that the disciples brought in when they cast their nets where Jesus told them to fish. In both instances they had...

Kristina and I just returned from a vacation that was a true blessing. We want to thank those of you who prayed for us while we were in California. We had a good time at the beach, catching waves with our grandchildren; and a good time in the ...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this Sunday is called "For Those Who Love Life and Want to Prosper" from I Corinthians 1:26-31, and as many selected proverbs* as I have time to address. I grew up playing baseball, football and basketball during recesses and after school on the playgrounds and fields near our house in San Rafael, CA. Two guys would be captains and the...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this Sunday is called, “Practical Wisdom for Daily Living.” I've selected several proverbs from chapters 18-19* that have been helpful to me over the years. The Proverbs can often be applied at more than one level. When you read them, take time to think about them from different perspectives and they will open up and release wisdom that w...

by Mark Buckley. I hope you are well. This weekend my sermon is called, “Increase Your Wisdom by Applying Proverbs.” The courses of our lives are set by the decisions we make every day. I often find that proverbs come to my mind when I'm facing conflicts or decisions which have a lot of pressure. These proverbs give me wisdom to approach situations differently than ...

My sermon June 1 was titled, "What’s the Big Deal about Sex?" About fifteen minutes into my message, two rows of high school students sitting in the front right side of our sanctuary stood up and walked out. I didn't know what I had said that disturbed them so much. I continued my message, but I was upset. I felt like I must lack the wisdom...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this Sunday is called, “What's the Big Deal about Sex?” from Proverbs 5 and 1 Corinthians 6. Our culture is obsessed with sex; but that's not much different than many cultures around the world, now or in the past. What breaks my heart is the ignorance in our culture...

by Mark Buckley. We have all seen big, beautiful houses and wondered who lives in the house and what kind of work they do. We are curious about how they could afford to buy a mansion, develop the grounds and furnish it lavishly. Proverbs 24:3-4 says...

by Mark Buckley. This weekend Danny Lehmann will be our special guest speaker at Living Streams. Danny is one of the International Directors of Youth With a Mission. I have been friends with Danny since I was invited to speak to his Jesus People ministry...

by Mark Buckley. My sermon this Sunday is called, “Breakthroughs that Bring a Blessing” from 2 Samuel 5:17-25, Acts 2, and Acts 10. We each go through seasons of life when we have to work hard and persevere to stay on track in order to ...

At Living Streams our Easter services are packed with members and visitors. I feel extra pressure to prepare a good sermon for Easter. I want to bring fresh inspiration, not a recycled message. I had felt impressed by the Spirit to speak about the walk Jesus took with two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. Two weeks before Easter, I went ...

by Mark Buckley. I hope you are doing well. We are preparing for our Good Friday and Easter Services and expect many visitors to our services Saturday night and Sunday morning. I would appreciate your prayers for David and me as we prepare...

In February, Living Streams hosted a worship and prayer meeting that was attended by a few hundred Catholics and Evangelicals. The local Catholic bishops were present along with Matteo Calisi and Giovani Traettino from Italy. I was sitting in a front pew next to Matteo when Robert Briggs, the Executive Vice President of the...

by Mark Buckley.
This weekend we are starting a sermon series called “Risen” in all our services. Throughout the month of April we will focus our messages on the impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. My first message is...

Giovani Traettino leads a network of Pentecostal Churches in Italy. For years Pentecostals had experienced persecution from Italian Catholics. So in 1992, when Giovani was invited to speak to a large meeting of Catholic Charismatics in Bari, Italy, he felt conflicted. He loved preaching the gospel, but he didn't want to betray...

By Mark Buckley. The Lord put a message on my heart for this Sunday from Luke 5:1-11 called “A Supernatural Catch.” In this story Jesus told Peter to go into the deep water and put down his nets to catch some fish. Peter was a commercial fisherman who had fished all night without catching anything....

Kristina and I were listening to the news and having one of those, "Can you believe how bad things are getting," talks recently. Actually, evil has been in our society for a long time. We would be outraged if we lived in a society where people had slaves. Yet Americans, including many Christians, lived with slaves and justified their actions for two...

On June 29, 1979, I was praying in my office in Novato, CA. As I knelt beside the couch, I heard a voice in my heart say, "I'm going to take you home."
I got off my knees and sat down on the couch. I was really upset. "Lord, are you telling me that I'm going to die? I have two little boys who need me. Kristina is pregnant. She and our new...

I'm heading to my 45th high school reunion in Marin County this month. The dinner will be expensive, and it won't be served until hours past my usual dinnertime. I won't be indulging in cocktails beforehand, or much of the dancing at the end. I attend our reunions because I value relationships. It takes effort to establish and maintain good relationships...

Four years ago, the elders of Living Streams suggested to me that I take a sabbatical. The idea sounded interesting to me at the time, but I wasn't sure how practical it would be for me to be away from our church for three months. I didn't want Living Streams to lose people or momentum. I was basically too insecure to take our elders up on their gracious ...